Martin and her staff locked themselves in with the residents to keep them safe against the illness, which killed more than a reported 9,000 people in other care homes in France.

On Monday, Martin and 12 other colleagues who stayed in the home for the full duration ended their quarantine after undergoing coronavirus tests that all came back negative – as did tests on residents.

Staff were pictured hugging relatives they hadn’t seen in almost two months as they exited the building, while thankful residents went to the front door to clap the staff for their sacrifice.

Residents inside clap as the nurses leave the Vilanova nursing home in Corbas, near Lyon, central France. (AP)

Meanwhile in the UK, staff at the White House care home in Teignmouth, Devon, also made the decision to move in with residents to ensure their safety.

In March, 10 members of staff moved into the home, where they care for dementia sufferers, and slept in camper vans and shared staff offices, repurposed as sleeping quarters.

Manager Demelza Lamport told the BBC that since moving in they “have established better relationships with the residents" and that the staff have "settled in really well".

Finance and office manager Rebekah Hayden said: "We made the decision because we thought it was going to be the only way to keep them safe.

Other staff said they had asked for PPE such as masks and visors, but were told "head office is following government guidelines and will only give them out when they suspect someone might have COVID-19".

Public Health England guidance says staff "should have access to the PPE that protects them for the appropriate setting and context".